EP0823353A1 - Boítier de réaction pour sac gonflable à paroi déformable - Google Patents

Boítier de réaction pour sac gonflable à paroi déformable Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0823353A1
EP0823353A1 EP97305790A EP97305790A EP0823353A1 EP 0823353 A1 EP0823353 A1 EP 0823353A1 EP 97305790 A EP97305790 A EP 97305790A EP 97305790 A EP97305790 A EP 97305790A EP 0823353 A1 EP0823353 A1 EP 0823353A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
side wall
groove
reaction canister
airbag module
airbag
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP97305790A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Inventor
Daniel L. Steimke
John G. Bauer
James H. Repp
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Autoliv ASP Inc
Original Assignee
Autoliv ASP Inc
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Autoliv ASP Inc filed Critical Autoliv ASP Inc
Publication of EP0823353A1 publication Critical patent/EP0823353A1/fr
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60R—VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B60R21/00—Arrangements or fittings on vehicles for protecting or preventing injuries to occupants or pedestrians in case of accidents or other traffic risks
    • B60R21/02—Occupant safety arrangements or fittings, e.g. crash pads
    • B60R21/16—Inflatable occupant restraints or confinements designed to inflate upon impact or impending impact, e.g. air bags
    • B60R21/20—Arrangements for storing inflatable members in their non-use or deflated condition; Arrangement or mounting of air bag modules or components
    • B60R21/217—Inflation fluid source retainers, e.g. reaction canisters; Connection of bags, covers, diffusers or inflation fluid sources therewith or together
    • B60R21/2171—Inflation fluid source retainers, e.g. reaction canisters; Connection of bags, covers, diffusers or inflation fluid sources therewith or together specially adapted for elongated cylindrical or bottle-like inflators with a symmetry axis perpendicular to the main direction of bag deployment, e.g. extruded reaction canisters
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60R—VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B60R21/00—Arrangements or fittings on vehicles for protecting or preventing injuries to occupants or pedestrians in case of accidents or other traffic risks
    • B60R21/02—Occupant safety arrangements or fittings, e.g. crash pads
    • B60R21/16—Inflatable occupant restraints or confinements designed to inflate upon impact or impending impact, e.g. air bags
    • B60R21/20—Arrangements for storing inflatable members in their non-use or deflated condition; Arrangement or mounting of air bag modules or components
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60R—VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B60R21/00—Arrangements or fittings on vehicles for protecting or preventing injuries to occupants or pedestrians in case of accidents or other traffic risks
    • B60R21/02—Occupant safety arrangements or fittings, e.g. crash pads
    • B60R21/04—Padded linings for the vehicle interior ; Energy absorbing structures associated with padded or non-padded linings
    • B60R21/045—Padded linings for the vehicle interior ; Energy absorbing structures associated with padded or non-padded linings associated with the instrument panel or dashboard

Definitions

  • This invention relates to automotive airbag modules. More specifically, it relates to a passenger-side airbag reaction canister designed to minimize head impact injuries in crashes of severity less than required to cause airbag deployment.
  • Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 201 sets forth requirements for minimizing head impact injuries occurring during crashes of severity less than required for airbag deployment.
  • the need for such a standard arises from the fact that the airbag reaction canister in a passenger-side airbag installation is mounted closely adjacent and behind the breakaway portion of an automotive instrument panel. This portion of the instrument panel is customarily a resilient plastic. Accordingly, in the case of a sudden stop at a speed lower than required for airbag deployment, it is possible for the passenger's head to contact the edge of the reaction canister mouth through the resilient instrument panel, thereby causing injury.
  • reaction canister side walls In order to solve the problem addressed by FMVSS 201, various means have been employed to weaken or render less rigid the reaction canister side walls. These include, for example, introducing corrugations into the side wall, punching perforations into the side wall, or employing multi-piece reaction canisters wherein the side wall is constructed of two interlocking portions. These approaches add to the cost and complexity of the reaction canister and some can create problems, such as rattles or tearing of the airbag cushion. Accordingly it is a primary object of the present invention to provide a reaction canister having at least one side wall which is weak, ab initio, in a preselected region to absorb the energy of head impacts. Another object is to provide such a canister wherein the weakened portion is formed during extrusion of the canister such that no subsequent operations are required. Other objects, features, and advantages will become apparent from the following description and appended claims.
  • This invention comprises an extruded reaction canister for a passenger-side airbag module. It may be of any extrudable material, such as plastic or aluminum. During extrusion, one or more grooves are provided in at least one of the reaction canister side walls which is subject to a head impact. This provides a thinned section in the side wall which is bendable under an impact to the edge of the side wall.
  • FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate a passenger-side airbag module which includes an extruded reaction canister 10 .
  • the canister 10 is of basically standard construction which may include, for example, a substantially cylindrical housing 12 for containing an inflator 14 and a pair of spaced side walls 16, 18 substantially in the form of a trough.
  • the ends of the reaction canister are closed by a left end plate 20 and a right end plate 22 .
  • Terms such as “left,” “right,” “up,” and “down” are relative to the drawing and not to the position of the module in a vehicle.
  • the upper edges 34 (FIG. 3) of the side walls 16, 18 and the end plates 20, 22 define a rectangular open mouth which may be positioned closely behind the breakaway door 24 which forms a portion of the instrument panel.
  • each side wall of the reaction canister includes a plurality of T sections 28 .
  • the T sections are designed to engage depending legs 30 of the door 24 . However, they do not constitute part of the invention and other constructions may be employed.
  • the main body of the reaction canister comprising the housing 12 and the side walls 16, 18 , is extruded and the extrusion is cut to the desired length.
  • the reaction canister material is aluminum 6063-T6 and the thickness of the side walls is 2.29 mm.
  • the side wall 16 has an upper edge which defines the mouth of the reaction canister and which is also subject to head impact.
  • the reaction canister is extruded with a groove 32 on the outer surface of side wall 16 which runs the length of the reaction canister.
  • this groove is positioned below the T sections 28 which anchor the door.
  • the groove 32 is substantially rectangular.
  • the groove 32 was 6 mm in width and .79 mm deep, leaving a thinned section of the side wall 1.50 mm thick.
  • the overall length of the side wall was 248 mm.
  • FIG. 4 illustrates a groove 36 of triangular cross-section.
  • FIG. 5 illustrates a groove 38 of semi-circular cross-section. It will also be apparent that the grooves may be employed on either the outer or inner surfaces of the side wall 16 .
  • a pair of spaced parallel grooves 40 are formed on the outer surface of the side wall 16 and a pair of interjacent parallel grooves 42 are formed on the inner surface of the side wall 16 to thereby provide a corrugated effect.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Air Bags (AREA)
EP97305790A 1996-08-01 1997-07-31 Boítier de réaction pour sac gonflable à paroi déformable Withdrawn EP0823353A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US691890 1996-08-01
US08/691,890 US5791684A (en) 1996-08-01 1996-08-01 Airbag reaction canister with collapsible side wall

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0823353A1 true EP0823353A1 (fr) 1998-02-11

Family

ID=24778388

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP97305790A Withdrawn EP0823353A1 (fr) 1996-08-01 1997-07-31 Boítier de réaction pour sac gonflable à paroi déformable

Country Status (3)

Country Link
US (1) US5791684A (fr)
EP (1) EP0823353A1 (fr)
JP (1) JP3045814U (fr)

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2332176A (en) * 1997-12-09 1999-06-16 Rover Group Deformable airbag module
GB2332177A (en) * 1997-12-10 1999-06-16 Rover Group Deformable airbag module
US6502851B2 (en) * 2000-05-11 2003-01-07 Takata Corporation Attachment structure of passenger side airbag device
EP1285822A3 (fr) * 2001-08-11 2003-09-17 Dr.Ing. h.c.F. Porsche Aktiengesellschaft Dispositif d'airbag pour véhicule automobile

Families Citing this family (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6422589B1 (en) * 1998-12-18 2002-07-23 Delphi Technologies, Inc. Recyclable airbag module housing
DE10161446B4 (de) * 2001-12-14 2005-06-30 Daimlerchrysler Ag Airbaggehäuse
DE10349520B4 (de) * 2003-10-22 2010-07-22 Autoliv Development Ab Gehäuse zur Aufnahme eines Kraftfahrzeug-Airbagmoduls
KR100735997B1 (ko) 2005-12-20 2007-07-06 현대모비스 주식회사 에어백 하우징
US7448642B2 (en) * 2006-04-11 2008-11-11 Honda Motor Co., Ltd. Impact absorbing airbag inflator
DE102010016749B4 (de) 2010-05-03 2024-02-22 Dr. Ing. H.C. F. Porsche Aktiengesellschaft Airbaggehäuse eines Airbagsystems und Airbagsystem

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPH02306846A (ja) * 1989-05-23 1990-12-20 Honda Motor Co Ltd 自動車用エアバック装置
US5342082A (en) * 1993-05-28 1994-08-30 Morton International, Inc. Airbag reaction canister having softened edges
JPH06293244A (ja) * 1993-04-08 1994-10-21 Takata Kk 助手席用エアバッグ装置
US5505484A (en) * 1995-02-23 1996-04-09 Morton International, Inc. Collapsible airbag canister

Family Cites Families (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3373630A (en) * 1966-04-29 1968-03-19 Gen Motors Corp Steering column assembly
US3492888A (en) * 1966-11-24 1970-02-03 Nissan Motor Steering assembly for absorbing impact
US4941678A (en) * 1989-06-29 1990-07-17 Morton Thiokol, Inc. Lightweight reaction can for passenger inflators
US5566975A (en) * 1992-02-24 1996-10-22 Morton International, Inc. Controlled pressure relief of an inflatable restraint reaction canister
JPH05270345A (ja) * 1992-03-25 1993-10-19 Takata Kk 助手席用エアバッグ装置
JPH0655987A (ja) * 1992-08-07 1994-03-01 Kansei Corp エアバッグの取付装置
JP3161086B2 (ja) * 1992-10-16 2001-04-25 タカタ株式会社 助手席用エアバッグ装置
US5395133A (en) * 1994-02-04 1995-03-07 Morton International, Inc. Air bag reaction canister having softened edges
US5533747A (en) * 1995-06-15 1996-07-09 Morton International, Inc. Airbag module with collapsible side wall

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPH02306846A (ja) * 1989-05-23 1990-12-20 Honda Motor Co Ltd 自動車用エアバック装置
JPH06293244A (ja) * 1993-04-08 1994-10-21 Takata Kk 助手席用エアバッグ装置
US5342082A (en) * 1993-05-28 1994-08-30 Morton International, Inc. Airbag reaction canister having softened edges
US5505484A (en) * 1995-02-23 1996-04-09 Morton International, Inc. Collapsible airbag canister

Non-Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
PATENT ABSTRACTS OF JAPAN vol. 015, no. 089 (M - 1088) 4 March 1991 (1991-03-04) *
PATENT ABSTRACTS OF JAPAN vol. 095, no. 001 28 February 1995 (1995-02-28) *

Cited By (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2332176A (en) * 1997-12-09 1999-06-16 Rover Group Deformable airbag module
US6010147A (en) * 1997-12-09 2000-01-04 Rover Group Limited Motor vehicle and a motor vehicle airbag module
GB2332176B (en) * 1997-12-09 2002-01-02 Rover Group A motor vehicle and a motor vehicle airbag module
GB2332177A (en) * 1997-12-10 1999-06-16 Rover Group Deformable airbag module
US6135495A (en) * 1997-12-10 2000-10-24 Rover Group Limited Motor vehicle and a motor vehicle airbag module
US6502851B2 (en) * 2000-05-11 2003-01-07 Takata Corporation Attachment structure of passenger side airbag device
EP1285822A3 (fr) * 2001-08-11 2003-09-17 Dr.Ing. h.c.F. Porsche Aktiengesellschaft Dispositif d'airbag pour véhicule automobile
US6854761B2 (en) 2001-08-11 2005-02-15 Dr. Ing. H.C.F. Porsche Ag Airbag system for a motor vehicle

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
JP3045814U (ja) 1998-02-20
US5791684A (en) 1998-08-11

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